It’s all Lady Vols, all the time in all women’s sports at the University of Tennessee — once again.

UT athletic director John Currie announced last week the return of the Lady Vols name, logo and brand for all women’s sports.

“We will not allow for the Lady Vol brand to disappear from our athletic department or the university,” Currie said during a news conference.

Former UT Chancellor Jimmy Cheek and former AD Dave Hart announced in 2014 a decision to drop the long-used Lady Vols nickname for all women’s sports except basketball, out of deference to the legendary Pat Summitt.

It has been, shall we say, playing to the whistle ever since. The Lady Vol supporters never gave up. They wrote letters - lots and lots of letters. They sent email — lots and lots of email. They held news conferences — yep, a bunch of those, too.

They took their campaign to the board of trustees, to the Legislature. They wrote guest columns and harangued sports writers.

Heck, a gubernatorial candidate (Craig Fitzhugh) even pledged to bring back the Lady Vols if he were elected. (He probably needs to strike that plank from his platform now.)

Faith proved fruitful for the faithful. Fingers were flying on social media within minutes of the decree. A sample:

◆ Coach Pat Summitt is smiling from heaven #LadyVols

◆ I am crying right right now! #ladyvols

◆ Lady Vols back? Let’s ride

◆ I’m having a hard time keeping my hands from shaking as I tweet #LadyVols.

Some say Cheek and Hart were tone deaf. Others weren’t so kind in their analysis. Cheek and Hart were looking at marketing and branding and consistency and all that jazz. All of that is important, but sometimes it’s about the tradition and the values and the listening.

Both are still in the first year of their jobs, but both were crystal clear when the announcement was made, they want to put this controversy behind them and move ahead — united.

Some who pushed to restore the name acknowledged it may take time to level out all the bumps, but they’re fine with that. They are Lady Vols, after all.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.